Kwami, Kwami oh so bright

Marinette and Adrien sat on a bench in the center of the gardens, out of the purview of Gabriel Agreste, while Nathalie stayed a discreet distance away. Neither could see the two spirits that sat upon the teenager's laps. The black cat lay upon the skirts of his chosen wielder's paramour, her fingers lightly scratching through the soft fur, while Tikki cuddled against the male's abdomen. "How were we able to fight off Vixen so effectively?" the young woman queried, her bluebell colored eyes watching as Plagg stretched out and snuggled into her thigh.

A giggle escaped Marinette's lips as Tikki spoke. "As a holder of a Miraculous, your bodies will naturally start to change the more you use the gems." she looked at Adrien so that he was upside down in her vision. "Your senses will feel supercharged, offering you more information with all five of them, while also enhancing your already natural physical abilities."

"Such as?" Adrien asked.

"Greater flexibility, much more compacted muscle, as well as better definition to your bodies." Tikki then looked at Marinette. "Your changes will be more internal, and potentially permanent for any descendants you have."

Laying her hand upon Plagg's body, the little kitten purred, letting it be his snore as he lightly dozed in total comfort. "What type of changes?" Marinette asked.

"Although you too will have more compacted muscle, and greater definition to your body, if I remain with you for more than two years... you could wind up becoming much more fertile."

Adrien's eyes went wide, while Marinette blushed with her teeth worrying her lower lip. "You mean... Marinette could wind up having children every time we..." he shivered at Tikki's words, a sense of wonder whether such a thing could be a blessing or a curse.

"Not only that," Tikki added, "but also have more chance of bearing healthy children, and twins for the rest of your lives."

"Would... our descendants have that as well?" Marinette asked.

"Yup." Plagg added, popping his eye open. "Whereas my kittens become better protectors, and greater warriors, Tikki's chosen become better mothers, ready to bear and raise children while directing my kittens."

"That is the true goal of the Kwami. Balance, order, life, and death." Tikki admitted. "You can't have one without the other." Floating over to Plagg, she lightly pet the top of his head, causing him to purr.

"Wow." Adrien breathed. "I wonder what would happen if someone could use both Miraculous at the same..."

Tikki floated up to his face. "You must never do that!" Adrien leaned back at the alarm in her voice and the wide eyes. "That... form is unstable, and can cause more problems than it solves."

"You mean... someone has already done that?" Marinette asked.

Floating down to Adrien's lap, she bowed her head. "Once."

Plagg floated over to her, gingerly wrapping the spirit of creation up in his paws. "This isn't the first time we've been bound to gemstones." he admitted, looking at Marinette. "Last time, though, was a disaster." Looking at Tikki, she closed her eyes and bowed her head. Taking that as his cue, he looked up. "One person managed to fuse our forms together, but the magic was too much for them, and they wound up destroying everything."

"Everything?" Marinette breathed. A shiver ran down her spine as she looked at Tikki.

"Yes, Marinette. Everything. For a spirit of creation, destruction on that scale is... physically harmful." The little red and black Kwami looked away, her voice going into a whisper. "I went insane a few thousand eons ago and unleashed my powers across the cosmos, but I couldn't bring them back." Marinette wiped the tears from Tikki's cheeks. "Plagg and the others... we... we searched each planet, to see if there was any chance their lives could've restarted."

"We found nothing." Plagg admitted. "I then suggested that we search the universe, look for life on another planet. In truth, I just wanted Tikki to give me that smile again." He looked at her as she snuggled against Marinette's bosom. "You have no idea how much it hurt to see her in such pain." Looking up he saw Adrien, who nodded. "The others managed to help me bring a smile to her face once more as he flew through the cosmos, laughing as we flew through stars and pulsars. Eventually, that same smile and twinkle in her eyes returned when we found where we were meant to be."

"You mean... here?" Adrien asked.

Giving the young man a nod, the spirit of destruction smiled. "We found Earth, but the creatures we found were... stupid." Plagg gave a little smirk. "Seriously, they couldn't even take a little game of tag."

Adrien shook his head. "Okay, but... wait, we've gotten off topic. How did that help us to fight off Vixen?"

Plagg shook his head. "The more you learn about combat moves outside of your Miraculous, the more you'll be able to protect yourselves." He then motioned to Marinette. "You may not realize it yet, but pigtails here is descended from hundreds of warrior women that have worn Tikki's earrings, and their knowledge is slowly filtering into the back of her mind."

"Same as me?" Adrien asked.

"You, potentially, could've defeated Master D'Argencourt with his Miraculous active as Adrien with only a bit of meditation to focus your energies, and knowledge." Tikki admitted with a nod. She then looked at Marinette. "I can tell you've already tapped into it throughout your training. The times when you don't think, but react... you're tapping into their training and skill."

"Whoa..." Adrien gaped at the two creatures. "Can you teach me that, Plagg?" He watched as the black cat Kwami dropped his head.

"Yeah, but meditation is boring..." Plagg whined, throwing his head back. "Tikki's better at it since it puts me to sleep."

He watched Tikki smile up at him. "Now that I know who you are, I can always come over to teach you."

Giving the little spirit of creation a nod, Adrien smiled. "I would very much appreciate it, Tikki. I want to be prepared just in case Vixen manages to take off my ring again."

That caused both Marinette and Tikki to gasp. "You mean, she was able to take off the ring, and nearly had Plagg?" the latter's tremulous voice managed to ask.

"Yes, but I got him back..." Adrien countered.

Looking at Plagg, they watched as the black cat Kwami shrank from her glare. "We're trading."

"Wh-What?!" Plagg yelped before slapping his paws over his mouth. They never saw Nathalie look up from where she was reading. "You want me to give her my ring?" he rasped, trying to talk softly.

"Yes." Tikki admonished. "Vixen will be back for the ring, so until she comes for it you'll have the ladybug earrings." A smile spread her lips. "She'll expect you to have the ring on, and will look for it on your finger. I'll be waiting for her, and when she tries to get into your room, I'll be there to unclasp Trixx's necklace."

"Hopefully she'll be dressed in a lot more than she was last time." Adrien muttered.

"Excuse me?" Marinette asked, her voice going cold. "What was she wearing?"

Adrien held up his hands. "Oh, nothing. I mean... she was wearing something, but..."

"Definitely didn't give you much to imagine what was underneath..." Plagg growled.

The look on Marinette's face caused both males to wince, while Tikki smirked. 'Boys...' she gave the duo a giggle before floating over to her chosen.

"You had better have looked away..." Marinette scowled at him.

"I-I did..." Adrien countered. "That's actually how she managed to get away."

"Don't worry," Tikki remarked, "I'll make sure nothing like that happens again, Marinette."

Marinette leaned in to give Adrien a smile. "For the sake of your future generations, it had better not." He then felt her hand squeeze his thigh, dangerously close to the area she had just threatened.

Gently wrapping an arm behind her back, he leaned in and tenderly pressed his lips to hers in a chaste kiss. "As long as Tikki doesn't fall asleep, and keeps an eye out, I should be safe." Adrien said with a smile.

It was then that Plagg looked between the pair. "Nathalie is coming." he nearly whispered, indicating that the pair of Kwami should make themselves scarce. The black cat floated up to Marinette's bosom, causing her to blush a little, while Tikki flew into Adrien's vest.

"We'll exchange once we're inside." Marinette whispered.

"I thought I heard something over here." Nathalie commented, looking at the two teens.

Smiling at the older woman, Adrien nodded. "I... felt it was necessary to tell Marinette about what happened in my room last night."

Marinette scowled at the pair, crossing her arms under her bosom. "Let's just say I wasn't happy to know that my intended was being visited by another woman that late at night." Her eyes bored into Adrien as Nathalie looked from one to the other. "Knowing who Vixen is, gives me no amount of joy either.

"Don't worry." Nathalie commented. "We've doubled the guard, and I've personally overseen the addition of bars on Adrien's window. If anyone can get in to attack you," she looked at the young teenage male, "they won't be escaping ever again."

Reaching up, he scrubbed at his face. "Great. I'm going to feel like a prisoner in my own home again."

Placing her hand on his shoulder, Nathalie looked him in the eyes when he turned to regard her. "We do this because we love you, Adrien, and because we're scared about what Vixen will do when she enters your room."

"That's just it." Adrien countered. "Vixen didn't seem interested in hurting me until I fought her off. It was only then that she tried to strangle me."

Having not heard that part of his tale, Marinette wrapped her arms around her betrothed. "She tried to..." she gasped, "Adrien, why didn't you tell me that?!"

"She tried to kill you with a dagger, Marinette." he remarked, his hand coming up, caressing her cheek. "As far as I was concerned, you are more important. Besides, I was able to fight her off without assistance. My worry is... what if she goes after your family, leaving you to try defending yourself?" He shook his head. "I won't let that happen."

Nathalie shook her head. "There is very little we can do about their security, unless you want to appoint guards at the bakery." She watched as Adrien and Marinette both shook their heads.

"People will stop coming if the guards are there, and there is no way we can be sure that Vixen isn't one of them in disguise should they need to," Marinette blushed, "answer a call of nature."

"The problem isn't our safety, the problem is Lila." Adrien countered. "Our main concern is to make sure she can't hurt anyone else. Already too many people have died just because of the attempted coup."

"She should be arrested." Marinette added.

"Agreed, but how will we make that happen? The militia has yet to make a move, in spite of the evidence against her." Reaching up, Nathalie rubbed at her forehead. "I hate to say it, but everything in this bureaucracy runs at the lightning speed of an arthritic snail."

"Could something have happened to Mr. Dubois?" Marinette asked.

The look of fear on Nathalie's face caused her to shake her head. "No. I-I'm sure everything is just fine. He..." Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. "If anything has happened to him... I'll kill that little bitch myself."

Marinette stood, taking the hand of their chaperon, her eyes on the woman's face. "Please don't get worked up. If anything has happened to him, and Lila is responsible, that will just mean everyone will be out for her head." She then reached down, to lightly touch the older woman's abdomen. "Think of the baby."

Smiling at the baker's daughter, she nodded. "Don't worry about me. I'm stronger than I look, and if a few angry emotions are going to impede my ability to bear a child, then I know it's a sign that I shouldn't be a mother."

That was when Adrien wrapped his arms around the older woman. "Nonsense." he countered, "You've already been a mother to me without even realizing it, and I love you all the more for that, Nathalie."

Wrapping her arms around the pair, she hugged them both. "Thank you."

oOo

Kagami sat within her room, her mind blank as she focused on her breathing. Longg floated in front of her, over the red jewel of his new Miraculous. Closing his eyes, he focused on the connection between him and his newest wielder. He had to admit that her usage of him had been little more than as a companion rather than a warrior, and he found the charming woman to be spiritually akin to himself. The dragon focused on that connection, his chi merging with her own. Were anyone to look at the pair, they would see red flames licking around the little Kwami, while the teenage Japanese woman's own body started to exude a form of heat that caused the air around her to ripple.

Within a matter of seconds, thoughts and images entered her mind. Unable to push them away, she watched them, studied them, analyzed them, and eventually opened her eyes to find herself performing the same moves and maneuvers. Blinking, she turned left and right, before her eyes fell on Longg. He was still floating, still burning, his eyes opening to show molten golden pools. The light caused her to wince as he let out a breath. "What was that?" she asked, breathlessly.

"That..." Longg was breathing heavily, "was Fusion, Kagami-redi. A connection between myself and another that has not happened in centuries." He floated over to her, his little paw on her hand. "You have an old soul, and I feel many others do as well. Kwami are drawn to them, and with that comes changes in the wielder."

Looking at the red and black dragon, she shivered. "What kind of changes?" her voice was steady, but inside she was practically trembling.

"The type that can take years to affect you, but you've already taken the first major leap." he motioned to the moves she had just done. "With much more meditation, and much more of a connection between us, you will learn fighting styles and stances that you have never heard of, or considered. Your muscles will become more dense, allowing for better shock absorption, as well as making your bones stronger. The major change is that you will become faster, stronger, much more physically appealing, and above all else, much better at protecting yourself and others should the need arise."

Gazing at the training sword in her hand, she spoke softly. "When we transform together," she shivered at the prospects of the power swirling around her, covering her in armor, "can I determine how I look? My colors, and my weapon?"

Floating up to her, Longg nodded. "You have some choice in the matter, but the weapon must remain a straight bladed sword." he looked at the training weapon in her hand. "My previous chosen only thought of using it as a rapier, but the sword can do several things that a normal blade cannot. The blade can extend around into a shield, you can cut through most anything aside from magically imbued weapons and armor, and... you can find others who wield Miraculous, but only while transformed."

"Black Cat and Ladybird Beetle?" Kagami asked, sitting back down to look at the Kwami.

"Among others." Longg admitted. "Including the young woman who attempted to assist the coup, and her master."

Kagami looked at him, cocking her head to the side. "Does anyone else know about this?"

"It's possible, but most Kwami don't like to tell their chosen about that ability." Longg stated with a shake of his head. "Doing so can lead to discovering the identities of each wielder, which is highly discouraged, or for potentially nefarious purposes." Floating over to sit on her crossed legs, the little dragon looked up at the beguiling woman. "I only say this to you because you have demonstrated a degree of self-control, honor, and integrity that I have only seen in one of my previous wielders. You are either her equal, or greater. I know not which."

"Who was your previous wielder?" Kagami asked.

"Tomoe Gozen." Longg answered. "She would form my blade into a spear, but even she could not establish a connection so readily."

Bowing her head, Kagami smiled. "Thank you, Longg-sama, for the compliment."

"Less of a compliment, and more a statement of fact, Kagami-redi." His golden eyes peered at the young woman as she smiled at him. "Just remember that your identity must remain secret to all. Never lapse on this, for when you do, you invite your own destruction."

"I understand, Longg-sama." Bowing low to the little dragon, she rose up to her feet once more, and set off to her training regime with Adrien. 'My hope is that Adrien and Nathalie know enough to train me in fencing.' A smirk quirked up one side of her lips. 'I still have to test his chaperon and see if she truly is as capable as she boasts.'